Banned Books Week

[Bob S.]

This week, Sept 24-Oct 1 is Banned Book Week in the US. Sponsored by the American Library Assoication (ALA), it highlights books that have been banned or challenged by parents.

Please read up on the books that have been challenged. Remember, the same people who want to ban books are the same ones who want to ban nudism.

Also, The Forbidden Library has a list of quotes regarding censorship from ancient figures such as Euripides to modern publishers such as Larry Flint.

One of my favorite quotes is below:

"Censorship of anything, at any time, in any place, on whatever pretense, has always been and always be the last resort of the boob and the bigot."
-- Eugene Gladstone O'Neill, American playwright (1888-1953)

Bob S.

[Bob S.]

This week, Sept 24-Oct 1 is Banned Book Week in the US. Sponsored by the American Library Assoication (ALA), it highlights books that have been banned or challenged by parents.

Please read up on the books that have been challenged. Remember, the same people who want to ban books are the same ones who want to ban nudism.

Also, The Forbidden Library has a list of quotes regarding censorship from ancient figures such as Euripides to modern publishers such as Larry Flint.

One of my favorite quotes is below:

"Censorship of anything, at any time, in any place, on whatever pretense, has always been and always be the last resort of the boob and the bigot."
-- Eugene Gladstone O'Neill, American playwright (1888-1953)

Bob S.

[Qikdraw]

quote:

Originally posted by Bob S.:
One of my favorite quotes is below:

"Censorship of anything, at any time, in any place, on whatever pretense, has always been and always be the last resort of the boob and the bigot."
-- Eugene Gladstone O'Neill, American playwright (1888-1953)

I agree with that. I can't believe some of the books on the lists.

People should learn to mind their own business and stop messing with other people's. They can read what they want, and I'll read what I want.

Qikdraw

[jon71]

I liked Larry Flynt's quote. "If the human body's obscene complain to the manufacturer not me. A good one not on the list is "Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo". I think it's from Woody Allen but I'm not sure. Also I want to say that everybody should read "Fahrenheit 451". I wish that was required reading in every school in America.

[David77]

When I was young, the common expression, "banned in Boston", was stating a reality, as the city of Boston was very intent on banning books thought "immoral".

You could not buy the classic by T.S. Elliott entitled, "Lady Chatterly's Lover" in Boston, for instance. Also the book by James Joyce entitled "Ulysses" was banned in Boston, because it refered to masterbation, I think.

In more recent years, to my knowledge, they have not banned books there, thankfully!

[namedun]

Wow, I'm looking at the list of 100 most challenged books. It's rediculous, alot of these are books that were taught in my schools: James and The Giant Peach, The Giver, The Outsiders, Catcher in the Rye, Huck Finn (and aren't Catcher in the Rye and Huck Finn THE Classic books?), Lord of the Flies. Oh, lest I forget the bible belt's favorite, Harry Potter.

[krcNY]

Most of the people who complain have never even read the books. My mother in law is upset at the fact that we read the Harry Potter books. I read them with our kids and have all the movies out so far. She is always preaching that the books are evil...but she has never read one. hmmmmmm

She saw me reading DaVinchi Code and started sending me religious books. I liked DaVinchi's Code, it was a great mystery.

Most of these books teach character, teach about overcoming obstacles and have great story lines. No matter if they are banned in school, I will still read them with my kids.

Some of the books on the list were on my bookshelf as a kid and I still have them. They are Classics.

[hm0504]

Thank you Bob S. for highlighting this important event.

Regarding Boston, remember that Christmas was banned there (as it was in all of Massachusetts) by the Puritans and indeed it was not until 150 years ago that people there began to celebrate Christmas again.

I think Massachusetts, like Quebec in Canada, show that when a people has been subject to religious extremism, they can revolt and do a complete about face. I don't think much is banned in Boston these days!

[Boreas]

Thanks for posting this Bob. I have read several books on that list. It amazes me that those and others would be banned. A couple are in my favourite list.....Margaret Atwood, Pillars of the Earth to name a couple.

Pretty sad.

[shãybare]

I, too, am against banning books and ideas, but I am very much for "challenges" for school book content and age. I would not like to have a third grade student hear her teacher say "Please open your Hustler magazine to page...".

[namedun]

While I really wouldn't care if a young child could view Hustler in school, I wouldn't expect it to happen. What I do think is quite undemocratic though, is the forbidence of a book to be viewed in a government operated library.....Isn't Boston the home of Democracy?

[David77]

quote:

Isn't Boston the home of Democracy?

Philadelphia claims that title.
Boston is the home of the rebellion against England's imposed taxes.

Democracy had a rough start. Some colonies were quite intolerant of any but the offically sanctioned religion of the colony.

My ancestrial grandfather, over 350 years ago, who immigrated from England, was banned from Boston, kicked out, because he was a Seventh Day Baptist.

Thus he, Elder John Crandell, around 1640, went to territory which is now Newport and Westerly, Rhode Island and was very friendly with the Naranasett Indians. When he went across the Connecticut boarder to see a sick friend, he was arrested, fined and was to be whipped, as they did not allow anyone of his religion in their colony. (This whipping punishment was apparently suspended, however).

[Nu]

At an early age, I found one of the books-Adventures of Huckleberry Finn-in my mother's book shelf.
I read only the first few pages, but it seemed rather uninteresting.
Nonetheless, I attempted to write a book report for school,thinking the teacher might be impressed (a young kid writing a book report on a renowned book).
Needless to say, I got a poor mark. (pardon the pun)
In a later school year, the book was part of the curriculum. Now older, it made more sense to me and I appreciated it.

[S.M.A.]

"What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist."
- Salman Rushdie

If you think it's bad here, try the Middle East.

Stuart

[Bob S.]

According to the link on the ALA's BBW page, "Why Banned Books Week?", they give a part of the ALA's Library Bill of Rights. “Librarians and governing bodies should maintain that parents—and only parents—have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of their children—and only their children—to library resources.”

How could anybody deny that?

"I, too, am against banning books and ideas, but I am very much for "challenges" for school book content and age."

And that should be about the only reason for a challenge: age-inappropriateness. Unforutnately, some parents think their children should never be exposed to certain images/themes. "In the Night Kitchen" being challenged for a naked infant? "Draw Me a Star" for having a rough drawing of man and women without clothes?

One challenge I heard about on the child-lit email list that I am a member of was so unbelievable that it is laughable. A complaint was made against a teen book, "Confessions of a Teenage Sex Goddess" not about content, but because someone who sees a teenage girl reading that book in public might think that she is easy and take advantage of her. I am not kidding.

Looking at the top 100 list, I have read the following:
96. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
84. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain (parts of it)
79. On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
70. Lord of the Flies by William Golding (for high school)
62. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume (not a book for boys)
51. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
44. The Pigman by Paul Zindel
29. Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
25. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
22. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
14. The Giver by Lois Lowry
9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (parts of it)

Bob S.